Tricky

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Tricky

Icecreamcastles single.jpg
single art for Ice Cream Castles
Song details
Performer: The Time
First Released: 30 May 1984 - Ice Cream Castles single
Album(s): None
Writer(s): Prince and Morris Day (credited to Morris Day)
Producer(s): Prince (credited to Morris Day and The Starr Company)
Live Appearances
First and last live appearance:
Performed regularly on tour:
  • none
Performed occasionally in shows:

Tricky was released as the b-side of Ice Cream Castles, the first single from The Time’s third album, Ice Cream Castle. It was also included on some versions of the album’s third single, Jungle Love. Tricky was written by Prince and Morris Day, but credited to Morris Day only. It was co-produced by Morris Day and Prince under the name The Starr Company.

Basic tracking took place on 12 January 1984 at Sunset Sound in Hollywood, California (as un unnamed track initially), during sessions that yielded material for the Ice Cream Castle album. The bass and drum parts were very similar to another jam that Prince recorded with Morris Day on drums, Cloreen Bacon Skin, which was tracked in March 1983 but released in 1998, and with which it even shares some lyrics.

Tricky was written about George Clinton (with whom Prince would work starting in 1988) and Bootsy Collins. The track was recorded as a response to P-Funk All-Stars’song Copy Cat (from their 1983 album Urban Dancefloor Guerillas) which contains a couple of lines directed against Morris Day.


Recording Information
Recording Sessions
Date Studio Additional info
12 January 1984 Sunset Sound,
Hollywood, CA, USA
Tracking
Recording Personnel
  • Prince - all vocals and instruments, except where noted (uncredited)
  • Morris Day - background vocals, drums
  • Other musical personnel unknown

Versions
Released Versions
Title Length Released Version Additional info
Tricky 3:12 Ice Cream Castles single

Jungle Love single

Studio



 
Additional Information

See also Trivia

  • A part of the theme song for The Tonight Show With Johnny Carson (Johnny’s Theme which in itself is an adaptation of Paul Anka’s 'It’s Really Love') is sung by Prince at 2:48 when he yells: 'Johnny, Johnny'.
  • In the song, George Clinton is referred to as the old Michelin Man and Bootsy Collins as being big, tossed-salad, hairdo-havin’, long, tall, snaggly gold-toothed / funkin’ habit-formed, leather-wearin’, beanpole-lookin’ .

References
Tres   < < < All Songs Unreleased Songs > > >   The Trouble With Emma